Cover-clamp and handle for baskets.



No. 653,|25. Patented July 3, I900. M. TUCKER;

COVER CLAMP AND HANDLE FOB BASKETS.

(Application filed Feb. 27, 1900.)

(No Model.)

/NVEN7'0R ATT W/ TNE SSE 8 m: NORRIS Perms co. FHOTOJJTHD" WASH N iTED STATES PATENT Q EICE.

MAJOR TUCKER, OF nnooron, NEwYoRK, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF TO CHARLES F. ORANDALL, 0E SAME PLACE.

COVER-CLAMP AND HANDLE FOR BASKETS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 653,125, dated July 3, 1900. Application filed February 27, 1900. Serial No. 6,722. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MAJOR TUCKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brocton, in the county of Chautauqua and State of New York, haveinvented anew and Improved Cover-Clamp and Handle for Baskets, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

One object of my invention is to provide a simple and readily-applicable device adapted to perform the dual functions of a handle for a fruit-basket and a means for securing the cover of such basket in place.

A further object of the invention is to provide adevice of the characterdescribed which may be readily sprung to proper position upon different sizes of baskets usually employed for packing grapes and which are universally known upon the market as the cli- I max basket.

-Another object of the invention is to so construct the device that it will not only serve as a handle and a cover-lock, but will tend materially to strengthen any basket to which it may be applied.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth,

and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a basket having the improved clamp and handle applied; and Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the basket, showing thereto and in side elevation.

The device is made of a single piece of spring material, preferably spring-wire of a suitable gage, and comprises a central loopsection 10, which serves as a handle proper, and upwardly and outwardly inclined members 11 and 12, extending from the terminals of the central loop-section 10, which sections 11 and 12, where they connect with the central or handle section 10, are adapted to bear upon the cover A of the basket, which is fitted to the body B in any suitable or approved manner. The construction of the device is completed by carrying the section 11 downward,

the device as applied forming a vertical section or member 13, and curving the lower end of the vertical section 13 upward to form a hook 14, which hook is adapted to engage with the under edge of the top hoop or band I) of the body B of the basket. The opposing section or member 12, that extends from the handle-section 10, is carried downward to form a long vertical member or section 15, and this section is of such length that it extends to the bottom portion of the basket and is provided with an inwardlyextending hook-terminal 16, adapted for engagement with the bottom of the basket. The entire device is made of such width or of such size that it may be fitted to baskets of different widths, and this is possible owing to the yielding or elastic character of the material employed in constructing the device.

The two upper sections 11 and 12 may be termed clampingsections, while the vertical members 18 and 15, with their appendages, maybe properly denominated sustaining-sections.

When applying the device, the hook 14 of the shorter vertical sustaining-section 13 is placed in engagement with the under edge of the upper band or hoop of the basket, while the opposing and longer sustaining-section 15 is sprung outward until 7 its terminal or foot portion 16 can engage with the bottom of the basket, and when these two points of contact have been consummated the sections 11 and 12 will be brought in clamping 'engagement with the top of the cover A, where the said clamping-sections connect with the handlesection 10 of the device, as is clearly illustrated in Fig. 2.

It is obvious that the device not only serves as a medium for carrying the basket and for holding the cover in position on said basket, but it likewise strengthens the basket, since the weight of the basket and its contents is sustained by the members 13 and 15 and their appendages engaging, respectively, with the upper hoop of the basket at one side and with the bottom of the basket at the other side.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent--- l. A cover-clamp and handle for baskets, comprising a handle-section, clamping-sec tions extending in opposite directions from the handle-section, a sustaining-section extending downwardly from one of the clamping-sections and provided with means for en- 5 gagement with a side of the basket, and a longer sustaining member or section extending downward from the opposing clampingsection and provided with means for engagement with the bottom of the basket, for the purpose described.

2. A cover-clamp and handle for baskets, consisting of a spring material bent upon itself to form a horizontal upper handle-section, clamping-sections extending from the terminals of the handle-section outwardly and upwardly in opposite directions, one clamp-section being provided with a downwardly-extending vertical section having a hook-terminal arranged for engagement with a side of the basket, the opposite clamping-section being also provided with a downwardly-extending sustaining-section having a hook arranged for engagement with the bottom of the basket, for the purpose described.

MAJOR TUCKER. Witnesses:

CHAS. S. BARBER, F. M. THAYER. 

